Tag: A Lenten Devotional

Morning Prayer: Mon, 03 Apr – John 10:27-28; Luke 15:1-7 ~ more joy in heaven

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentences

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Reading: John 10:27-28 (NLT)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me….
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Reading: Luke 15:1-7 (NLT)

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
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Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to seek and save the lost – sheep without a shepherd.

Hear the cries of our hearts for our lost loved ones – our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our friends and neighbors, the known and the nameless, those both near us and far from our shores.

Call them by name and bring them home to yourself – convict them of sin, and unrighteousness, and grant them a spirit of repentance and saving faith.

And Lord, give us confidence, clarity and courage to share the Good News of what you have done for us with those you have prepared to listen.

We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Shepherd of Love” – Evie Karlsson


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Blessing

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Sat, 01 Apr – Psalm 138:8; John 10:1-21 ~ a rich and satisfying life

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentences

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Reading: Psalm 138:8 (NLT)

The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
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Reading: John 10:1-21 (NLT)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
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Prayer:

Lord God: You knew me, made me, called me, and had a plan for my life even before I was born.

+ Thank you for your unfailing love and faithfulness to me over the years.
+ Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to sacrifice his life in order to save mine.
+ Thank you for enabling me to recognize his voice and to follow him along the path of Life.
+ Thank you for your protection from the schemes of the evil one to steal my joy and destroy my life.

Lord God: Continue working out your good purpose in me and give me the ability to hear your voice ever leading me to a rich and satisfying life. Through my Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“King Of My Heart” – Kutless


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Blessing

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Fri, 31 Mar – Psalm 131:2; Matthew 11:28-30 ~ cultivate a quiet heart

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentences

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Reading: Psalm 131:2 (MSG)

I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content.
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Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Give me a quiet heart –

+ that I might find rest for my soul in every season of my life.
+ that I might hear your wise, gentle, voice teaching me the lessons of Life.
+ that I might glorify you in seasons of abundance, joy and thanksgiving.
+ that I might glorify you in seasons of loss, sadness and mourning.
+ that I might rejoice in your renewed faithfulness to me every day.

Heavenly Father: Give me the quiet heart of Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Be Still My Soul” – Kari Jobe


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Blessing

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Wed, 29 Mar – Psalm 89:5; Matthew 18:20 ~ all together in Jesus’ name

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentences

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Reading: Psalm 89:5 (ESV)

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
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Reading: Matthew 18:20 (ESV)

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: your people magnify and glorify your name; we give you the praise and honor you deserve. Grace us with your presence as we come together in your name.

+ May we work together in harmony, as we deliver the bread of life that you so freely offer.

+ May our humility, kindness and compassion bless others, as we become more like Jesus.

+ May your light of life shine through us, as we light the way to your heavenly kingdom.

+ May your mercy and forgiveness bring us together as a family, as we show love for one another.

+ May we never berate one another; instead,  we pray blessing, joy, welfare and protection on one another.

Heavenly Father: we declare in the name of Jesus, according to the power of the Spirit at work in us, that we – your people – are of one mind, one faith, and one baptism. You are the Lord and Father of us all – through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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“Praise & Harmony “We Will Glorify” Summer Celebration” – The Acappella Company


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Blessing

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!